Rocket-Powered 21-Foot Long X-Wing Actually Flies

An anonymous reader writes to tell us that some crazy California enthusiasts have built a 21-foot long model of an X-Wing. While this might be impressive in its own right, this model actually flies. Powered by four solid-fuel rocket engines the group has high hopes for their launch next week. Let's hope the built-in R2 unit makes it out ok.

I am going to take a guess

[darkmayo]

and that this x-wing will end up as a recreation of Porkins last flight.

Flies...

[Anonymous Coward]

...along a ballistic trajectory.

Re:With enough thrust....

[flaming error]

If I weld four rockets to it, I wonder if my '67 Impala could fly...

Re:Except that

[meringuoid]

they wouldn't need wings

That's why they don't have wings. They have S-foils.

And anyway, X-wings are quite capable of atmospheric flight. Just as long as you aren't damn fool enough to land one in a swamp; you'd never get it out.

Won't this attract unwanted imperial attention?

[EvilSpudBoy]

All we need is for the empire to think there is a rebel base here, and they will send the death star to blow up Earth. In which case that thing better fly and it better have one hell of a pilot.

Re:With enough thrust....

[Carnildo]

You'd probably wind up embedded halfway up a cliff in Arizona after you miss a turn. Do you have a bumper sticker saying "How's my driving? Call 1-800-EAT-SHIT"?

Re:Except that

[Billosaur]

Always with you it cannot be done...

Call Homeland Security

[Anonymous Coward]

At 1-800-ALQ-AEDA [huffingtonpost.com] and warn them of this threat.

Update

[Diginosis]

"We are greatly saddened today when we learned that while testing the rocket powered X-Wing fighter, a rocket powered bionic arm developed by the US military came out of nowhere and punched a hole through the engine compartment. Jek Porkins Jr., the pilot of the craft was quoted as last saying, 'NO, I'm all ri-- Aah!' as the plane plummeted to an unknown location."

-X-Wing fighter engineering staff

Re:Good thing for R2

[veganboyjosh]

The actual quote is "I've got a bad feeling about this..."

swamp landing

[icebones]

Fromm the ammount of wood they used, I wonder if this one might actually float if it landed in a swamp

Re:Does it fly?

[ch-chuck]

I used to hang out with model airplane enthusiasts and after watching flying snoopy doghouses, flying witches on brooms, flying lawn mowers, flying pizza pans, carpets, flags, picnic baskets, etc, people would just say, "You can make a brick fly if you put a big enough engine on it".

Re:They're building a rocket plane

[east coast]

Of course they're not having sex. That goes without saying. After all, they're Star Wars geeks.

But does it have

[MeditationSensation]

laser weapons that make sound in the vacuum of space?

Re:With enough thrust....

[An ominous Cow art]

Cut the chatter, Red 414242.

Re:Strap enough propellant on!

[Anonymous Coward]

It's just a little airborne, it's still good, it's still good!

Re:Does it fly?

[$RANDOMLUSER]

"The Vogon ships hung in the air in exactly the same way that bricks don't"

Ob.

[pushing-robot]

Perry Bible Fellowship [pbfcomics.com]

Re:Except that

[meringuoid]

My impression from the movies was that they have some form of anti-gravity for taxiing, which could also make up for lack of lift during atmospheric flight.

Ah. That explains a lot.

'Hmm. Disconnected in the rough landing the main cable to the antigravity device was. No wonder it is, that get this ship out of the swamp he cannot. Reconnect it I will, before to lift it through Force powers I attempt. Impressed will young Skywalker be, and respectful!'

Re:Does it fly?

[cthulu_mt]

Does it run Linux?
Will it blend?

Daddy! I WANT and Oompa-Loompa!

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

Yes, Veruca dearest! But.. Daddy is about to earn his Darwin prize.

Re:I am going to take a guess

[Chris Burke]

How about they strip off the rockets and find a way to make a house for homeless people?

I say why strip off the rockets?

Re:Except that

[Chris Burke]

What makes you think Yoda was averse to a little swamp dive? That little sucker could live on any remote and abandoned planet in the galaxy, and he chose a swamp planet, because he loves swamps so much. Well, that and it's a great excuse for not cleaning up his hovel. Any place not waist-deep in muck is considered clean on Degobah.

Re:I am going to take a guess

[Cecil]

Did a rocket model enthusiast shit on your face recently?

One can only hope so.

Re:Except that

[Anonymous Coward]

When 900 years old you are, minimize flatulence you will not.

Re:The more interesting question...

[Strudleman]

Wow, you act like you might know something. Of course it could be gas. Maybe you should take something for that verbal diarrhea you seem to have. Of course you could simply be retarded. Are you sure you're not a retard? Maybe just another moron talking out of his ass again like he knows a thing or three? I bet it's a bit of everything. You should take something for that. Perhaps a loaded .357 ingested orally will do the trick!

Since I'm feeling generous, let me take some time to educate you. Flying high powered rockets is legal in this country. It won't get you arrested or fined or thrown in Gitmo (Where the hell'd you get that? Oh, probably more gas.) It doesn't make you a terrorist or an activist or a radical islamist or any kind of -ist. Provided you follow the laws, file the proper paperwork and notices with the proper government agencies, it's perfectly legal.

Now, ready, aim, fire!

Ugh.... don't bother with this.

[heinousjay]

Goatse [goatse.ch]

Re:Ugh.... don't bother with this.

[DMUTPeregrine]

That may be one of the only times that site is, in any way, on topic.